Eastern District of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky.- A former Cook Supervisor at United States Penitentiary Big Sandy, Hank Williams, 56, of Weeksbury, Kentucky, was indicted on Thursday in federal court for one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of money laundering, two counts of attempting to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of accepting a bribe by a public official, one count each of attempting to provide and providing contraband, and three counts of using a communication device to facilitate a felony offense.

A former Big Sandy inmate, Librado Navarette, 34, was also charged with one count of bribery of a public official and one count of possession of contraband.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in March 2016 and continuing through September 27, 2019, Williams conspired with others to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and conspired with others to money launder. The indictment further alleges that Williams, a public official, accepted a bribe from Navarette. Williams was also indicted for aiding and abetting the use of the U.S. mail to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.           

The investigation preceding the indictment was conducted jointly by the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General, FBI, the United States Postal Service, and the Georgetown Police Department.

William’s appearance before the United States District Court has not been scheduled.  If convicted, Williams faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes governing the imposition of sentences.

Any indictment is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

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LONDON, Ky. – A Middlesboro firefighter was convicted late Monday, by a federal jury sitting in London, of receiving and possessing child pornography, on a Middlesboro Fire Department laptop. 

The jury convicted Robert Christopher England, 35, after 30 minutes of deliberations, following a five-day trial.

According to the evidence at trial, England received child pornography on three separate occasions and possessed a collection of over 600 images, between April of 2017 and June 23, 2018.  England’s fire department laptop was seized, on June 23, 2018, by the Middlesboro Police Department.  At the time, England was serving as a Lieutenant within the Middlesboro Fire Department.  A forensic review conducted by the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch showed evidence of dark web access via Tor Browser and child pornography “playlists” created in ManyCam, a web conferencing program.

England was indicted in October of 2018.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, James R. Brown, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Louisville Division; and Acting Commissioner Col. Phillip Burnette, Jr., Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Kentucky State Police Electronic Crimes Branch.  The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna E. Reed.

England will appear for sentencing, before U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, on March 16, 2021.  He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing the sentence.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims.  For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Two Lovely, Kentucky men, Sherman Jude, 73, and Johnathon Jude, 40, pleaded guilty on Thursday, October 30, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Edward Atkins, to violations of the Lacey Act regarding ginseng purchases and record keeping of said purchases.

The harvesting and sale of ginseng is governed by state regulations, and includes record keeping requirements and a limited harvest season. According to their plea agreements, Sherman Jude was a dealer of wild American ginseng; and his son, Johnathon Jude, worked with him to keep records of the ginseng purchased from diggers and harvesters.

The investigation by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service revealed that over a period of years, the Judes had falsified the required Kentucky Ginseng Purchase Forms for multiple purchases of wild ginseng, including not keeping records of all the purchases, and purchasing ginseng that was known to have been harvested from another state, without being properly certified before entering Kentucky. Sherman Jude also acknowledged that, as of August 2019, he had purchased 12.5 pounds of ginseng that had been harvested improperly, out of season.

The Judes were indicted in June 2020. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily K. Greenfield.

The Judes are scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2021.  Sherman Jude faces a maximum of five years in prison.  Johnathon Jude faces up one year in prison.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – A California man, Michael John Davidson, 31, was sentenced to 120 months in prison on Thursday, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, after previously being convicted by a federal jury of attempted online enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.  The jury reached its verdict after approximately one hour of deliberations, following a day and a half trial.           

According to testimony at trial, on February 20, 2019, Davidson contacted an individual, who self-identified as a 15-year-old female living in Franklin County, Kentucky, using the KiK messenger internet application on his cellular telephone.  The person Davidson contacted was, in reality, an investigator with the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General’s Cyber Crimes Branch.  From February 20-22, 2019, a conversation between Davidson and the investigator took place on the KiK messenger. Eventually, the Defendant turned the conversation sexual activity, and transmitted several images of himself.  

The conversation between the Davidson and the investigator resulted in a planned meeting for sex, on February 22, 2019.  On February 22, 2019, Davidson drove from Jamestown, Kentucky, to Frankfort, Kentucky, in order to meet the investigator and engage in criminal sexual activity.  When the Davidson arrived at the agreed-upon meeting place, he was arrested by law enforcement.  

 Davidson was convicted in May 2020.

Under federal law, Davidson must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years, following his release. In addition to the prison sentence, Davidson was also ordered to pay $5,100 in special assessments.

“The importance of the law enforcement efforts to protect children from online sexual predators cannot be overstated,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “The defendant used the internet to knowingly plan to have sex with someone he believed was a 15 year old girl. Fortunately, because of the excellent work of law enforcement, he was identified and arrested. His federal prison sentence is deserved, and serves as a warning for those who would engage in similar conduct.”

“Investigators with our Cyber Crimes Unit work to stay one step ahead of cyber predators who target children,” said Attorney General Cameron. “As children spend more time online during the pandemic, these efforts and partnerships with law enforcement are more important than ever. I appreciate the work of our Department of Criminal Investigations, U.S. Attorney Duncan, and the Louisville Field Division of the U.S. Secret Service in this case.“

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Ralph Gerds, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service Louisville Field Division; and Daniel Cameron, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Kentucky, jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Secret Service and Kentucky Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Branch.  The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin M. Roth and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Chapman. 

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, which was launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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COVINGTON, Ky. - A Bromley, Ky., man, Brandon Daunt, 33, was sentenced to 150 months in federal prison on Tuesday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to Daunt’s plea agreement, on February 13, 2020, law enforcement arrested him on an existing warrant, after he exited his apartment.  Upon searching his backpack, they found 25.6 grams of methamphetamine, 7.1 grams of crack cocaine, 5.3 grams of fentanyl, 184.8 grams of marijuana, two cell phones, and $1,157 in cash.  Law enforcement then searched his apartment, finding three firearms, which Daunt admitted he possessed to protect himself, his drugs, and his proceeds, and later admitted acquiring in exchange for drugs.

 Daunt pleaded guilty in July 2020.

Under federal law, Daunt must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Detroit Field Division; and Christopher Conners, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA and Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wade Napier.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Duncan coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

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PIKEVILLE, Ky. – Christopher Francisco, 30, of Boyle County, Kentucky, was sentenced last week to 322 months in federal prison, by United States District Judge Robert Wier, for possession with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.           

According to his plea agreement, law enforcement stopped Francisco’s vehicle in Floyd County, Kentucky, on February 11, 2020, and found approximately three pounds of methamphetamine and a loaded firearm.  Francisco admitted in his plea agreement that he had been regularly delivering methamphetamine to drug dealers in Floyd County.  During the sentencing hearing, the Court found that Francisco was responsible for the introduction of between 15 and 45 kilograms of methamphetamine into Floyd County, between November 2019 and February 2020. Before this latest conviction, Francisco had twice been convicted of state drug trafficking charges, resulting his designation as a “career offender,” for the purposes of the federal sentencing guidelines. 

Under federal law, Francisco must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years, following his release.

“The defendant was responsible for trafficking an enormous amount of a dangerous, illegal drugs,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We are committed to reducing the availability of these dangerous drugs, and the violence that often accompanies armed methamphetamine trafficking.  This case reinforces a simple point: dealing meth with a gun invites a long stay in a federal prison.” 

U.S. Attorney Duncan; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Louisville Field Division; and John Hunt, Floyd County Sheriff, jointly announced the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew H. Trimble. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Los Angeles, CA. man, Adalberto Pineda Santos, 50, was sentenced in federal court last Friday to 162 months in prison, before U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to launder money.

According to his plea agreement, Santos admitted that he conspired with others to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in Fayette County. Santos admitted that he would fly into the United States from Mexico to oversee the collection of money from the sale of cocaine and to distribute loads of cocaine at the direction of other co-conspirators. In the plea agreement, Santos admitted that couriers were used to transport drugs into Fayette County for distribution and to transport drugs out of Fayette County to locations in Colorado. In total, Santos admitted that the total amount of drugs attributable to him is 5 to 15 kilograms of cocaine.

Santos pleaded guilty in March 2020.

Under federal law, Santos must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J.T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; and Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by DEA and IRS. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Bradbury. 

The investigation was funded by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Program (OCDETF). The OCDETF program supplies critical federal funding and coordination that allows federal and state agencies to work together to successfully identify, investigate, and prosecute major interstate and international drug trafficking organizations and other criminal enterprises.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two defendants were sentenced in federal court today, for their roles in an international money laundering conspiracy; a third was convicted last Friday, by a federal jury in Lexington, for his role in the scheme.           

Last week, after an hour of deliberations, following a three-day trial, a federal jury convicted 34 year old Baaki Abdul Majeed of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, and five counts of transactional money laundering.            

According to testimony at trial, Majeed conspired with Kahad Wuupini, 35, and Thomas Inkoom, 42, in a money laundering conspiracy.  Evidence revealed that the conspirators agreed to aid in and launder $757,000 in funds, which were defrauded from a victim of an online romance fraud scheme.  After receiving cashier’s checks, personal checks, and cash from the victim, Majeed and his co-conspirators laundered the money from Washington and New Jersey, back to Ghana, by purchasing cars that were shipped to Ghana, obtaining cashier’s checks, and wiring funds to each other or other individuals in the United States and Ghana.  The purpose of these transactions was to conceal and disguise the proceeds of their online romance fraud.

Majeed, Wuupini, and Inkoom were indicted in August 2019.

Wuupini and Inkoom pleaded guilty to the money laundering conspiracy in March 2020 and were sentenced today, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves.  Wuupini was sentenced to 79 months in prison and Inkoom was sentenced to 19 months.  Under federal law, both must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years, following their release.  Wuupini was ordered to pay $757,000 and Inkoom was ordered to pay $100,000 in restitution. 

“The scheme, using fraud and deceit, preyed upon the victim’s hopes and took advantage of her kindness, ultimately stealing over $750,000 of her money,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Unfortunately, internet-based romance scams are becoming more and more prevalent.  It is important for people to be cautious about sending money to someone they have only met online. If something seems too good to be true, it often is.  I commend the hard work of FBI personnel and members of my Office, to hold the defendants accountable for their crimes, and to bring a measure of justice to the victim.”

“Romance scammers use promises of love and romance to entice victims online often persuading them to send money, personal and financial information, and items of value to the perpetrator,” said James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “The defendants in this case not only deceived a vulnerable individual, but then proceeded to engage in multiple money laundering schemes in order to conceal their original scam. The FBI will not stand for fraudsters who seek to gain financially by preying upon the “heartstrings” of Americans.”

United States Attorney Duncan and SAC Brown jointly announced the conviction.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate Smith. 

Majeed will appear for sentencing on January 29, 2021. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.

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COVINGTON, Ky. - A Ft. Thomas, Kentucky man, James Hamilton, 52, was sentenced to 90 months on Friday, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for distribution of child pornography.

According to his plea agreement, between January 31, 2018 and March 1, 2018, an investigator with the Kentucky Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force traced a computer, which had connected to Bit Torrent and downloaded files depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, to a computer in Hamilton’s possession.  After a search warrant was obtained, Hamilton’s laptop was seized by law enforcement, who later found the suspected files, along with over 600 images depicting minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct.

Hamilton pleaded guilty in June 2020.           

Under federal law, Hamilton must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years, following his release.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jerry C. Templet Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations; and Chief Craig Sorrell, Campbell County Police Department, jointly announce the sentence.

The investigation was conducted by HIS and the Campbell County Police Department. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wade Napier.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. –A compounding pharmacy based in Nicholasville, and its owner, admitted on Thursday in federal court to unlawful distribution of compounded prescription drugs. 

Tailor Made Compounding LLC (TMC) pleaded guilty to one count of distributing unapproved new drugs throughout the United States, from October 25, 2018 through April 1, 2020, before U.S. District Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove.  Specifically, TMC pleaded guilty to unlawful distribution of selective androgen receptor modulators (“SARMS”) and other substances that the FDA had not approved for distribution in the United States.  SARMS are synthetic chemicals designed to mimic the effects of testosterone and other anabolic steroids.  Products containing SARMS were often marketed and sold for body-building purposes.  According to the plea agreement, TMC also unlawfully distributed other unapproved new drugs, including BPC 157, Cerebrolysin, CJC 1295, DSIP, Epitalon, GW 501516, Ipamorelin, LGD-4033, LL-37, Melanotan II, MK 677, PEG-MGF, Selank, and Semax.  In connection with the plea, TMC agreed to forfeit $1,788,906.82, representing its 2019 sales for these products.

Jeremy Delk, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawfully engaging in wholesale distribution of a prescription drug, without licensing TMC as a wholesale distributor with the Board of Pharmacy for the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  According to the plea agreement, from October 23, 2018 through May 14, 2020, TMC sent 112 vials of Methylcobalamin 10mg/ml 10mL, a prescription form of vitamin B12, to Doctor 1, a licensed physician who operated an anti-aging/wellness clinic in the Greater Los Angeles area.  Rather than sending individualized, patient-specific prescriptions to TMC, as is required by law, Doctor 1 made bulk orders of Methylcobalamin 10mg/ml 10mL without issuing prescriptions or providing accurate patient names.  Delk, as owner and chief executive officer of TMC, knowingly caused TMC to fill and ship bulk, wholesale distributions of Methylcobalamin to Doctor 1, knowing that TMC had never applied for permission from the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy for TMC to act as a wholesale distributor of prescription drugs.  When authorities from the FDA and the Kentucky Board of Pharmacy inspected TMC between August 20 and October 24, 2018, Delk took steps to hide records of TMC’s wholesale distributions of Methylcobalamin, as well as other records.

Tailor Made and Delk were charged by way of information, waiving their right to indictment by a federal grand jury.

“The safety and efficacy of prescription medications is of paramount importance to us all,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “When pharmacies intentionally evade the FDA requirements, they are placing their own interests above those of the patients they are supposed to be serving.  The community deserves better, and I commend the work of our law enforcement partners in their diligent efforts to protect the public and disrupt this criminal conduct.”

“Compounded drugs can serve an important role for patients whose medical needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved drug product. But pharmacies will be held responsible for failing to follow the laws intended to protect patients, including requirements for licensure and limitations on what drugs can be appropriately compounded,” said Special Agent in Charge Mark S. McCormack, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who put profits above a patient’s health.”

United States Attorney Duncan; Mark S. McCormack, Special Agent in Charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office; and James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the FDA and the FBI.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith. 

Delk and Tailor Made Compounding are scheduled to be sentenced on February 24, 2021.  Delk faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal statutes.  

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LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Mt. Sterling, Kentucky husband and wife, Michael McNew, 49, and Karen Ann Nickell, 64, pleaded guilty on Thursday, before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and crop insurance fraud, respectively.

According to his plea agreement, McNew admitted that, in late 2013, he devised a scheme to defraud the federal government, on federal crop insurance policies, and ARMtech Insurance Services, on private crop-hail insurance policies. As to the federal policies, this scheme involved making material misrepresentations on crop insurance applications and claim of loss forms on a large scale, including knowingly misrepresenting ownership stakes, farm acreage, farming activity on the farms covered, and the consent of the parties in whose name the policies are taken out. McNew also admitted to submitting false claims of loss on the private crop-hail policies, knowing that the claims falsified acreage, percentage of damage, and photographs of the damage. McNew admitted to receiving a kickback from the farmers in the form of cash in exchange for these favorable adjustments. As a result of his conduct, fraudulent insurance policies were issued and paid, resulting in approximately $23,618,351 worth of insurance indemnity payouts distributed to producers under false pretenses.

In her plea agreement, Nickell admitted that while acting as an independent insurance adjuster for ARMtech Insurance Services, she aided and abetted others in knowingly making false statements and reports for the purpose of making a false claim of loss on a federal crop insurance policy belonging to an individual identified as E.L.P. She admitted that on three occasions, she adjusted tobacco crops on a property insured under E.L.P.’s name, when in reality that specific claimed property was a wooded lot, incapable of growing tobacco.

Michael McNew was indicted in November 2019.  Karen Ann Nickell was indicted in February 2020.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, Jason M. Williams, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and Juan Garrett, Director, Kentucky Department of Insurance Fraud Investigation Division, jointly made the announcement.

The investigations were conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency Special Investigations Staff, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and Kentucky Department of Insurance.  The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Erin Roth and Kathryn Anderson.  

McNew is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2021.  He faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss.  Nickell is also scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2021.  She faces probation for two years, a $15,000 fine, and a payment of restitution of $58,486.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes. 

 

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LEXINGTON, KY. - A Richmond, Ky., man, Terry Smith, 44, was sentenced in federal court on Monday, to 72 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 10 grams or more of acetylfentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  

According to Smith’s plea agreement, on September 4, 2018, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Smith’s vehicle and located a chip can with a false bottom that contained 17.43 grams of acetylfentanyl and 27.99 grams of methamphetamine. Smith admitted to possession of the narcotics for further distribution.

Smith pleaded guilty in July 2019.

Under federal law, Smith must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; and Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and James Ebert, Chief of Police, Richmond Police Department, jointly made the announcement.

The investigation was directed by the ATF, Madison County High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, and Richmond Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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LEXINGTON, KY- A Cynthiana, Kentucky, man, William Michael Fields, Jr., 37, was sentenced to 420 months on Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for the production of child pornography.

According to court documents and trial testimony, Fields, then 36, exercised his positions as a Harrison County Constable and Paris Fire Department firefighter to form a relationship with a 17-year-old victim, who was interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement or emergency medicine.  The victim became acquainted with Fields in early 2019 while visiting a fire station in Harrison County, and began communicating with the victim through the social media platform Snapchat.

On March 17, 2019, Fields sent the victim a text message asking her to meet him. Fields met with the victim that night and provided her with alcohol. Fields then had sexual intercourse with the victim in the back of an ambulance in Paris. Fields used the victim’s cellphone to video record the encounter, and then sent the video to himself. A thumbnail image from the video was later found on Fields’ cellphone. 

The evidence at trial also revealed that Fields again had sexual intercourse with the underage victim at the Emergency Medical Training Facility in Bourbon County on March 23, 2019.  Fields again used the victim’s cellphone to record the encounter.

Law enforcement performed a forensic examination of Fields’ cellphone and discovered screen shots from the videos of Fields’ sexual encounters with the victim.          

Fields was convicted in June 2020 by a jury in Lexington after a two-day trial.           

Under federal law, Fields must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 20 years.

“This conduct is simply inexcusable – the defendant abused his positions of trust and authority, as a firefighter and constable, and used them to sexually exploit a minor victim,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “He further victimized her by knowingly using her to create images of child pornography.  This despicable conduct warrants significant punishment, both to hold him accountable and to deter others from engaging in similar conduct.”

United States Attorney Duncan; Jerry C. Templet Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security Homeland Security Investigations; Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky, and Chief E. Douglas Robinson, Cynthiana Police Department, jointly announce the sentence..

The investigation was conducted by HIS, the Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, and the Cynthiana Police Department. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Roth and Mary Melton.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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ASHLAND, Ky. – A couple from Ashland, Ky., Franklin Certain, 38, and Rikki Wurts, 24, were sentenced in federal court on Friday, to 120 months and 70 months in prison respectively, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to Certain and Wurts’ plea agreements, on April 21, 2019, law enforcement responded to an animal complaint at a residence shared by Certain and Wurts. There, law enforcement found Certain and Wurts in possession of 1,189.3 grams of methamphetamine inside the residence. While in custody, Wurts spoke to a relative about the incident and confirmed that she and Certain were selling the methamphetamine.

Certain and Wurts pleaded guilty in March 2020.           

Under federal law, Certain and Wurts must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, Certain will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years, and Wurts will be under supervision for five years.  

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; J.T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division; Chief W. Todd Kelley, Ashland Police Department; and Chief Scott Gillum, Flatwoods Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by DEA, Ashland Police Department, and Flatwoods Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – A Versailles, Ky., man, Kashajuan Kalil Lyvers 24, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.           

According to Lyvers’ plea agreement, he admitted that, on October 2, 2019, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle and found him in possession of more than six grams of fentanyl that he planned to distribute.  Furthermore, Lyvers was found with a stolen, loaded.40 caliber pistol.  Lyvers admitted that he possessed the firearm unlawfully because he was a convicted felon.

Lyvers had previously been convicted of Fleeing or Evading Police First Degree, Wanton Endangerment First Degree, and Receiving Stolen Property in Fayette County in February 2015.  Lyvers was also convicted of Trafficking a Controlled Substance First Degree in Fayette County in February 2015.

Lyvers pleaded guilty to the federal charges in June 2020.           

Under federal law, Lyvers must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence and will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years, following his release

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and the Lexington Police Department.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Francisco Villalobos.              

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Duncan coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

— END —

LEXINGTON, KY – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. wants to ensure that everyone knows how to rid their homes of unused and unwanted medications.

The DEA is holding its 19th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, Oct. 24 at locations across the country. The nationwide event aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications.

“I strongly support the DEA’s Tack Back Day; among its many benefits, it dramatically assists the DEA and our other law enforcement partners in reducing unlawful access to prescription drugs,” stated U.S. Attorney Duncan. “In 2019, we lost 1,316 Kentucky residents to overdose deaths, with a significant number of those overdose deaths caused by opioids. Take Back Day provides a vital opportunity to fight against the opioid problem in Kentucky.  Far too often, the path to addiction starts with experimentation with legitimately prescribed prescription opioids found in the home.  By participating in Take Back Day and disposing of unused pills, you can help prevent a loved one from misusing or abusing prescription drugs.”

“With America in the grips of the COVID-19 Pandemic, we’re seeing an alarming rise in overdose deaths,” said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division.  “There’s never been a more important time to rid our homes of medicines we’re not using and keep them away from those who might abuse or misuse them.”

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

Collection sites will adhere to local COVID-19 guidelines and regulations in order to maintain the safety of all participants and local law enforcement.

“The initiative – now in its tenth year – addresses a vital public safety and public health issue,” said DEA Acting Administrator Timothy Shea. “Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Together with our partners, we are not only holding National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, but offering other ways to dispose of unwanted, unused, and expired prescription medications.”

The Take Back Day Collection sites for the Eastern District of Kentucky are below. Click on each hyperlink to get directions to the collection site.

Eastern Kentucky

            KY State Police at Kentucky State Police Post 14 in Ashland, KY

            Ashland KY Police at King’s Daughters Medical Center

            Ashland KY Police at Ashland KY Police Department

            Flemingsburg Police Department at Flemingsburg Police Department

            Kentucky State Police at Kentucky State Police Post 8 in Morehead, KY

            Morehead Police Department at Morehead Police Department 

            Mt. Sterling Police Department at Mt. Sterling Police Department

            Mt. Sterling Police Department at Kroger in Mt. Sterling, KY

Northern Kentucky

            Bracken County Sheriff’s Office at Bracken County Fiscal Courthouse

            Boone County Sheriff’s Office at Boone County Sheriff’s Office

            Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force at Covington Police Department

            Fort Wright Police Department at Walmart- Fort Wright, KY

            Kentucky State Police at Kentucky State Police Post 6 in Dry Ridge, KY

            Florence Police Department at Florence Police Department

            Florence Police Department at Kroger Pharmacy in Florence, KY

            Fort Thomas Police Department at Fort Thomas Police Department

            Grant County Sheriff’s Office at Grant County Sheriff’s Office (from 8:30 a.m.-12 p.m.)

            City of Ft. Mitchell Police Department at Fort Mitchell Police Department

            City of Covington Police Department in Kroger in Covington, KY

Central Kentucky

            Kentucky State Police at Kentucky State Police Post 15

            Harrison County Sheriff’s Office at Harrison County Sheriff’s Office

            Cynthiana Police Department at Cynthiana Police Department       

            Danville City Police Department at Danville Police Department/City Hall

            Eminence Police Department at Eminence Police Department

            Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office at Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office 

            Frankfort Police Department at Frankfort Regional Medical Center

            Tpr. Stuart Jackson and Monica Dockery at Kentucky State Police Post 12 in Frankfort, KY

            Frankfort Police Department at Franklin County Health Department  

            Lexington Police Department at Kentucky American Water Company in Lexington, KY

            Nicholasville Police Department at Walmart in Nicholasville, KY

            Owingsville Police Department at Owingsville Police Department

            Paris Police Department at Walmart in Paris, KY

            Richmond Police Department at Richmond Police Department  

            Kentucky State Police at Kentucky State Police Post 7 in Richmond, KY

            Shelby County Coroner’s Office at Walmart in Shelbyville, KY

            Shelby County Coroner’s Office at Shelby County Coroner’s Office

            Woodford County Sheriff’s Office at Woodford County Sheriff’s Office

            Winchester Police Department at Walmart in Winchester, KY

Given the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency, DEA wants to ensure that the public is aware of other ways they can dispose of unwanted prescription drugs without having to leave their homes. Both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency have tips on how to safely dispose of drugs at home.

In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, visit: https://apps2.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubdispsearch/

DEA also encourages the public to reach out to their local law enforcement to find out if they have any permanent drug disposal locations throughout their local community.

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms. DEA will also accept vape pens or other e-cigarette devices from individual consumers, only after the batteries are removed from the devices. If the battery cannot be removed, individual consumers can check with large electronic chain stores who may accept the vape pen or e-cigarette devices for proper disposal. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and other sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

For more information on DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and to find a collection site near you, visit www.deatakeback.com

###

COVINGTON, Ky.- A Brooksville, Ky., woman, Rebecca Teegarden, 58, was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, to 36 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for theft by a bank employee and aggravated identity theft.           

According to her plea agreement, Teegarden was a bank teller at the First National Bank of Brooksville.  Between 2013 and 2019, Teegarden admitted to repeatedly using customers’ names and account numbers to make miscellaneous debit cash withdrawals from the customers’ bank accounts, without the customers’ consent.  Teegarden held the cash in her teller drawer and later converted the money to her own use, by depositing it into her or her mother’s bank accounts.

In total, Teegarden admitted that she stole $79,086.00 from victims who were customers at the Bank. She further admitted that she selected the accounts of her victims because those customers were elderly and did not regularly monitor their accounts. 

Teegarden pleaded guilty in July 2020.

Under federal law, Teegarden must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence.  Upon her release, Teegarden will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Louisville Field Office, made the announcement.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Harris.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Elder Justice Mission, focusing on identifying and prosecuting those who facilitate elder financial exploitation.  The initiative is carried out locally through the Kentucky Elder Justice Task Force.  Anyone who knows of someone who may be a victim of elder financial exploitation, is encouraged to contact law enforcement.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky.– United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., announced on Thursday that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Ken Taylor will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. 

AUSA Ken Taylor has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Kentucky and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Duncan said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.  The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.  In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period that ends on November 3, 2020, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Duncan stated that AUSA/DEO Taylor will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 859-685-4874 (office); 859-338-9509 (cell).

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. For all Kentucky based complaints, FBI personnel can be reached by the public at 1-844-596-6721 or [email protected].

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

United States Attorney Duncan said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate. It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

###

LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., announced on Monday the awarding of $2,011,078 in Department of Justice grants, to fight drug abuse and addiction in eastern Kentucky. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) and are part of more than $341 million going to communities nationwide.

“The addiction crisis has taken an enormous toll on America’s families and communities, eroding public health, threatening public safety and claiming tens of thousands of lives year after year,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Through comprehensive measures taken by this administration, we have been able to curtail the opioid epidemic, but new and powerful drugs are presenting exceptional challenges that we must be prepared to meet. The Justice Department’s substantial investments in enforcement, response, and treatment will help us overcome these challenges and work towards freeing Americans from abuse and addiction.”

Illegal drugs and illicit drug use have claimed the lives of nearly 400,000 Americans since the turn of the century. Powerful synthetic opioids like fentanyl are exacting an enormous toll on families and communities, and an emergence in the use of methamphetamines and other psychostimulants is drawing drug traffickers and driving up overdose rates. Three years ago, President Trump declared a Public Health Emergency and initiated a whole-of-government approach dedicated to ending this national tragedy. The Department of Justice has invested unprecedented levels of funding in combating the addiction crisis. The awards announced today build on those earlier investments.

“If we hope to defeat an enemy as powerful, persistent and adaptable as illicit drugs, we must be at least as determined and versatile, focusing our ingenuity and resources on curbing abuse and fighting addiction,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “These grants will enable criminal justice officials and substance abuse, mental health and other medical professionals to pool their assets and bring the full weight of our public safety and treatment systems down on this epidemic that has already caused so much harm.”

“Opioid abuse continues to have a devastating impact on eastern Kentucky and the Department of Justice remains committed to continuing the fight against this scourge,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “These important grant awards to entities in the Eastern District of Kentucky will allow criminal justice officials to better allocate resources toward addressing the critical health issues associated with opioid abuse.”

Funding is made available through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, National Institute of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

The following organizations received funding:

• Floyd County Fiscal Court- $600,000
• Kenton County Fiscal Court- $900,000
• Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government- $511,078

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years

###

LEXINGTON, Ky.—Seventeen tobacco farmers throughout eastern Kentucky have agreed to resolve civil allegations that they violated the False Claims Act, a federal law that prohibits submitting false or fraudulent claims for payment to the government.  As part of their civil settlement agreements, all of the defendants admitted that they submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims to a federally-backed crop insurance program.

The United States Department of Agriculture administers its crop insurance program through approved private insurance companies, who sell federally-backed multi-peril crop insurance (“MPCI”) policies to farmers. MPCI policies provide insurance coverage for harvests that are at risk from inclement weather or other naturally occurring events. Under the crop insurance program, eligible farmers are paid benefits based, in part, on factual representations as to the amount of crop harvested and sold and the cause of loss.

As part of their civil settlement agreements, all 17 defendants admitted that they submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims for MPCI indemnity payments to federally-funded approved crop insurance providers. Several defendants submitted claims for damaged tobacco crop in order to receive indemnity payments, but in fact sold the same tobacco for cash under fictitious names at Clay’s Tobacco Warehouse. Other defendants claimed ownership of the crops on their insurance applications, despite having partial or no ownership, in order to hide the identity of the crop owner and receive a cut of the indemnity payment. With assistance from crop insurance agents and adjusters, the defendants also inflated crop loss amounts and submitted falsified documentation about the quality of the tobacco crop to the insurance company.  The 17 defendants acknowledged that they made these false statements and false claims in order to secure indemnity payments to which they were not otherwise entitled. 

Collectively, these defendants received nearly $900,000 in indemnity payments as a result of their false claims. The defendants all have agreed to pay the United States as part of their settlement agreements. Several of the defendants also have agreed to sell farmland, vehicles, and other property and remit the net sale proceeds to the federal government.

The government’s work in this investigation illustrates its commitment to combatting crop insurance fraud through civil enforcement under the False Claims Act.  Tips from all sources about potential fraud can be reported to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General at http://www.usda.gov/oig/hotline.htm.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jason Williams, Special Agent in Charge, United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation; and Juan Garrett, Director, Kentucky Department of Insurance Fraud Investigation Division, jointly announced the civil settlements.

These investigations are conducted by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, and Kentucky Department of Insurance. The United States is represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan Stubblebine and Christine Corndorf.

—END—

 LEXINGTON, Ky. – United States Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., will be joined by federal, state, and local partners to discuss violent crime efforts and prosecutions of firearm-related charges in FY2020.

Who:                       Robert M. Duncan Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky

                      Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms

                      Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department

                      Sheriff Kathy Witt, Fayette County Sheriff’s Department

 

Where:                    U.S. Attorney's Office

                     Eastern District of Kentucky

                     260 W. Vine Street, Suite 300

                      Lexington, Kentucky, 40507

 

When:                      Friday, Oct. 16, 2020 at 10 a.m

###

LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., announced on Monday two separate grants of Department of Justice funds that were awarded to recipients in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

U.S. Attorney Duncan announced $1.5 million in Department of Justice grants to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, to help law enforcement agencies and crime labs process sexual assault evidence and increase the number of sexual assault kits submitted to crime labs in order to solve more crimes, including cold cases, in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $45 million in funding to support the National Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).

OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance made 36 grants to strengthen jurisdictions’ capacity to act on evidence resulting from rape kits, and three grants to the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence ‒ Inventory, Tracking and Reporting (SAFE-ITR) program.

“Far too many people endure the physical and emotional trauma of a sexual assault only to have evidence of the crime remain unanalyzed,” said Katharine T. Sullivan, OJP’s Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. “These grants will help investigators get these kits to labs, where they can be tested, used to solve crimes and ultimately bring justice to victims.”

“The grant funding provided to the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet helps further the interests of justice, by providing critical support to law enforcement and prosecutorial activities related to the testing and use of evidence in sexual assault investigations,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “With the additional funding, more sexual assault kits can be tested, potentially leading to evidence to assist in holding offenders accountable and providing justice to the victims of the crime.” 

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

U.S. Attorney Duncan also announced $993,018 was awarded to help fund crime laboratories, decrease DNA backlogs, support basic and applied forensic research, and help law enforcement identify missing persons. These grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of $192 million in funding to advance forensic science nationwide.

“Developments in forensic science have given investigators an extraordinary array of tools that can be enlisted to solve crimes and bring answers to victims and survivors, often after many years and even decades,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Sullivan. “These investments in crime-fighting technology, from DNA analysis to drug toxicology to forensic anthropology, will help identify and convict perpetrators, ensure justice for innocent victims and keep communities safe by deterring future criminal activity.”

“The award of these grant funds will help the Commonwealth utilize the tools necessary to further investigations, solve crimes, and bring justice to victims,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan.

Since 2004, the Office of Justice Programs has received an annual appropriation for DNA and other forensic science activities. The funding, administered through OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and National Institute of Justice, supports DNA analysis, laboratory capacity enhancement and forensic science research that provides knowledge and tools to improve the quality and practice of forensic science.

The following organizations received funding:

• Commonwealth of Kentucky- $993,018
• Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet- $264,698
• Eastern Kentucky University- $241,305

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, visit here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

# # #

Five indictments in three different states were unsealed today indicting a total of twenty-four defendants, including alleged Aryan Circle (AC) gang members and associates, on charges of racketeering conspiracy, violent crimes in aid of racketeering, drug conspiracy, and unlawful firearms trafficking. 

The indictments were announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Cox of the Eastern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. of the Eastern District of Kentucky, and U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst of the Southern District of Mississippi.  These indictments are part of a larger investigation into the AC, Operation Noble Virtue, that has targeted AC leadership and has resulted in seventeen federal convictions in six jurisdictions to date. 

One of the indictments in the Eastern District of Texas charges six alleged AC members and associates with a racketeering conspiracy that includes acts involving murder, five alleged AC members with assault resulting in serious bodily injury in aid of racketeering, and two alleged AC members with kidnapping and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in aid of racketeering.  Among those charged are alleged current and former high-ranking gang leaders including William Glenn Chunn, aka “Big Head,” 38, of Texas; Michael Martin, aka “Aryan Prodigy,” aka “AP,” 37, of Texas; Kevin Kent, aka “Big Kev,” 35, of Indiana; and Malachi David Wren, 51, of Texas.  Other alleged AC members charged include Jesse Paul Blankenship, aka “JP,” 39, of Missouri; Timothy Long, aka “Timmy,” 41, of Arkansas; Jeremy Chad Dennis, aka “JD,” 43, of Texas; Becky Westbrook, 49, of Mississippi; Rodney Holt, aka “Turbo,” 48, of Texas; Bobby Dayle Boney, aka “Bear,” 50, of Texas; and Glynnwood Derrick, 46, of Texas. One additional defendant remains at large. 

Another indictment in the Eastern District of Texas charges Rodney Holt, aka “Turbo”; as well as his associate who is not known to be an AC member, Eric Hoccheim, 39, of Texas, with five counts including firearms trafficking and conspiracy.  Operation Noble Virtue also resulted in a third indictment in the Eastern District of Texas, which charges Jeremy Klintman, aka “Shamrock,” 37, of Texas; Eulalio Torres-Cadenas, aka “Yayo,” 43, of Mexico; Shane Louque, 45, of Louisiana; and Breanna Beckley, 39, of Texas, with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.  These defendants are not known to be afilliated with the AC.

The indictment in the Southern District of Mississippi charges William Glenn Chunn, aka “Big Head”; Aaron Matthew Rentfrow, aka “Mongo,” 40, of Indiana; Jeremy Chad Dennis, aka “JD”; and Johnathon Aaron Reynolds, 38, of Tennessee with violent crimes in aid of racketeering relating to the stabbing of an inmate at USP Yazoo.  That indictment also charges Daniel Wade Holler, aka “Knucklehead,” 34, of Texas, with accessory after the fact relating to the same attack. 

The indictment in the Eastern District of Kentucky charges Mitchell Leon Farkas, aka “Lifter,” 51, of Louisiana; Jonathan Tucker Gober, aka “Tucker,” 36, of Texas; James Matthew Poole, aka “Redwood,” 35, of Texas; and Andrew Dwayne Tinlin, aka “Tin,” 39, of Iowa, with violent crimes in aid of racketeering relating to the stabbing of an inmate at USP Big Sandy. 

According to court documents, the AC is a violent, race‑based organization that operates inside federal prisons across the country and outside prisons in states including Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Missouri.  The AC was established in the mid‑1980s within the Texas state prison system (TDCJ) after a period of turmoil within the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT) resulted in rejected and ex-ABT members creating the AC.  The AC was relatively small in comparison to other prison‑based gangs, but grew in stature and influence within TDCJ in the 1990s, largely through violent conflict with other gangs, white and non-white alike.  In recent years, the AC’s structure and influence expanded outside of prisons to rural and suburban areas in numerous states. 

Court records further indicate that the AC enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, assault, and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the organization.  Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members without question.  The criminal acts charged in the indictments described above include shootings, stabbings, beatings, and “patch-burnings,” which are violent attacks that result in removal of a victim’s gang tattoo.

An indictment is merely an allegation.  The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law

This case is being investigated by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Prisons; Texas Department of Public Safety; Houston Police Department-Gang Division; Montgomery County (TX) Precinct One Constable’s Office; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; Texas Department of Criminal Justice; New Jersey Department of Corrections-Special Investigations Division; Indiana State Police; Fort Smith (AR) Police Department; Arkansas Department of Corrections; Arnold (MO) Police Department; Jefferson County (MO) Sheriff’s Department; St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; St. Louis County (MO) Police Department; Indiana Department of Corrections; Carrollton (TX) Police Department; Waller (TX) Police Department; Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Travis County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Tarrant County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office; Smith County (TX) Sheriff’s Office; McCurtain County (OK) Sheriff’s Office; Montgomery County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Liberty County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Harris County (TX) District Attorney’s Office; Mercer County (NJ) District Attorney’s Office; Evangeline Parish (LA) District Attorney’s Office; and the Sebastian County (AR) District Attorney’s Office.

The cases are being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Bethany Lipman, Rebecca Dunnan, Lakeita Rox-Love, and Alexander Gottfried of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Rapp of the Eastern District of Texas, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremiah Johnson of the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael FiggsGanter of the Southern District of Mississippi, with the assistance of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Missouri.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. announced Monday over $1.9 Million in Department of Justice grants, to address violence occurring in our nation’s schools. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of more than $87 million that has been awarded to bolster school security, support first responders who arrive on the scene of a school shooting or other violent incident, and conduct research on school safety.

STOP School Violence, a program of OJP’s Bureau of Justice Assistance, improves school security by providing students and teachers with the tools they need to recognize, respond quickly to, and help prevent acts of violence.  In addition to STOP School Violence Act funding, OJP’s National Institute of Justice is investing in research on school violence.  

“Only by removing the threat of violence from our schools can we expect our kids to reap the full benefits of their education, and only after making our places of learning safe can we ask our teachers to instruct and inspire as they are trained to do,” said OJP’s Principal Deputy Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan.  “The Department of Justice is committed to securing our schools from danger and giving our kids the support they need to learn, grow and thrive.”

“The safety of our kids is always foremost in minds of a community,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “We send our kids to school trusting that they will be safe and that they are able to learn in a positive environment. As we have experienced far too often, there are times when that is simply not the case. These grants award critical funds to address this tragic issue, and I and pleased that three Kentucky communities will directly benefit from these valuable resources and the ongoing effort to help our kids learn safely.”

The following organizations received funding:

• Fayette County Public Schools - $750,000
• Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services - $750,000
• Fleming County Schools - $430,150

For a complete list of individual grant programs, award amounts, and jurisdictions that will receive funding, click here. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

# # #

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Department of Justice announced on Monday that it has charged more than 14,200 defendants nationally with firearms-related crimes during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, despite the challenges of COVID 19 and its impact on the criminal justice process.

These cases have been a Department priority since November 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr announced his commitment to investigating, prosecuting, and combatting gun crimes as a critical part of the Department’s anti-violent crime strategy.  These firearms-related charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made firearms-related investigations a priority.

“The number one priority of government is to keep its citizens safe,” said Attorney General Barr.  “By preventing firearms from falling into the hands of individuals who are prohibited from having them, we can stop violent crime before it happens.  Violating federal firearms laws is a serious crime and offenders face serious consequences.  The Department of Justice is committed to investigating and prosecuting individuals who illegally buy, sell, use, or possess firearms.  Reducing gun violence requires a coordinated effort, and we could not have charged more than 14,000 individuals with firearms-related crimes without the hard work of the dedicated law enforcement professionals at the ATF, our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country, and especially all of our state and local law enforcement partners.”

“Protecting the public from violent crime involving firearms is at the core of ATF’s mission,” commented ATF Acting Director Regina Lombardo.  “Every day the men and women of ATF pursue and investigate those who use firearms to commit violent crimes in our communities, many of whom are prohibited from possessing firearms from previous convictions.  ATF, in collaboration with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the nation, is committed to bringing these offenders to justice for their egregious and violent criminal acts.”

Of the more than 14,200 defendants charged, 184 defendants have been brought by Eastern District of Kentucky, announced U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. 

“Combatting violent crime remains a fundamental priority for our Office,” said U.S Attorney Duncan. “Strong partnerships between federal, state, and local law enforcement have resulted in numerous violent offenders being removed from our communities, making us all safer.  While we certainly recognize there is more work to be done, we are resolute in our commitment to protecting the public through enforcement and prosecution of federal firearms violations and violent crime.”

Under federal law, it is illegal to possess a firearm if you fall into one of nine prohibited categories, including being a convicted felon, illegal alien, or unlawful user of a controlled substance. Further, it is unlawful to possess a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense or violent crime.  It is also illegal to purchase – or even to attempt to illegally purchase – firearms, if the buyer is a prohibited person or is illegally purchasing a firearm on behalf of others.  Lying on ATF Form 4473, which is used to lawfully purchase a firearm, is also a federal offense.  The Department is committed to prosecuting these firearms offenses as well as using all modern technologies available to law enforcement such as the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, known as NIBIN, to promote gun crime intelligence.  Keeping illegal firearms out of the hands of violent criminals will continue to be a priority of the Department of Justice and we will use all appropriate, available means to keep the people of this country safe from gun crime. 

For more information on the lawful purchasing of firearms, please see: https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/atf-form-4473.     

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. - An Afghan man, known as “John” Sadiqullah, 32, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, to 106 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, following his convictions for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.           

According to the evidence presented at his trial, Sadiqullah believed that the victim, L.E., owed him a substantial amount of money.  After repeated attempts to try to get his money back, through persistent visits to L.E.’s place of business, Sadiqullah contacted Mahmoud Shalash, a local religious leader, to help him get his money back.  Shalash had been working with an individual known as Thomas Smith, for whom Shalash had laundered approximately $100,000.  Shalash then introduced Smith to Sadiqullah, as an individual who could collect debts by any means necessary.

The evidence also established that Sadiqullah and Smith agreed to kidnap L.E., or his son, in an attempt to retrieve the money; and then, if necessary, they would kill L.E.  Three days later, when Sadiqullah learned that L.E. was in Lexington, Sadiqullah, along with others, cornered L.E. at his place of business and called Smith to carry out the plan.  Smith, who had been working for the FBI during this entire period of time, reported the incident to the FBI, which then took L.E. and his son into protective custody.

Shalash was sentenced on June 22, 2020, for conspiring to commit kidnapping and committing money laundering. Shalash received two years in prison and five years of supervised   release, including one year of home incarceration. Shalash was also ordered to pay a $20,000 fine and forfeit $81,861.99 in illegally laundered proceeds.           

Under federal law, Sadiqullah must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Following his release, Sadiqullah will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Louisville Division, jointly announced the sentence. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The United States was represented by Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew T. Boone and Kathryn M. Anderson.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Department of Justice announced on Wednesday it has charged more than 500 domestic violence cases involving firearms during Fiscal Year (FY) 2020.

A Department priority since 2019 when Attorney General William P. Barr created the Department of Justice’s first ever-Domestic Violence Working Group, these charges are the result of the critical law enforcement partnership between United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, led by Acting Director Regina Lombardo, who has made domestic violence firearms-related investigations a priority.

“Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminal offenders is one of the Department of Justice’s top priorities,” said Attorney General Barr. “This is especially important when it comes to individuals with prior domestic violence convictions. The statistics are clear that when domestic violence offenders have access to guns, their partners and their families are at much greater risk of falling victim to gun violence. In fact, in some communities across America, roughly half of the homicides are related to domestic violence. The Department of Justice is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of those who are prohibited from having them, and we will continue investigating and prosecuting all domestic violence firearms related crimes.”

 “According to the CDC, data suggests that about one in six homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner,” said ATF Acting Director Lombardo. “Nearly half of female homicide victims in the U.S. are killed by a current or former male intimate partner. ATF is committed to aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and certain protective orders. It is another way we prevent violent gun crime within our communities.”

Locally, since October 2017, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky has brought eleven cases, including two cases in 2020, against defendants charged with unlawfully possessing a firearm after a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence or who were subject to a qualifying protective order.  In 2020, two defendants have been sentenced for domestic violence and firearms related convictions.

Shawn Lee Perkins, of Montgomery County, was sentenced in August 2020 to serve 78 months in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, among other charges.  Perkins admitted in his plea agreement that in 2018 and 2019 he knowingly possessed several firearms after being convicted of Assault Fourth Degree-Domestic Violence in Fleming County, Kentucky in 2011.  After serving his sentence, Perkins will serve a period of supervised release for 3 years.

Scott Kirk Koehler, of Lexington, was sentenced in May 2020 to the equivalent of 18 months in prison, after pleading guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm while subject to a domestic violence order.  In his plea agreement, Koehler admitted that on April 30, 2018, he possessed five firearms while he was subject to an Emergency Protection Order, a domestic violence order issued by the Fayette County District Court in July 2015.  Koehler was arrested by ATF in September 2018 and ordered to be held in custody pending resolution of his federal charges.  Koehler is on supervised release for a period of 18 months. 

“A firearm unlawfully possessed by a domestic abuser is a recipe for deadly violence and tragedy,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “Reducing gun violence, including domestic violence related firearms offenses, is a fundamental priority for my Office and the Department of Justice.  I am proud to serve as a member of the Attorney General’s Domestic Violence Working Group, to help further the Department’s efforts to use federal firearms prosecutions to prevent domestic violence.”

Under federal law, individuals with domestic violence misdemeanor and felony convictions, as well as individuals subject to domestic violence protective orders, are prohibited from possessing firearms. The data shows that offenders with domestic violence in their past pose a high risk of homicide. In fact, domestic violence abusers with a gun in the home are five times more likely to kill their partners.

The Working Group, chaired by U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox, of the Northern District of Texas, disseminates legal guidance on keeping guns out of the hands of domestic violence abusers using three federal statutes:

• 18 USC § 922 (g)(1), felon in possession of a firearm
• 18 USC § 922 (g)(9), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (misdemeanor crime of domestic violence)  
• 18 USC § 922 (g)(8), possession of a firearm while subject to a domestic violence protective order

Based on the Working Group’s guidance, in FY 2020, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide brought 337 domestic violence felon-in-possession charges, 54 possession while subject to a protective order charges, and 142 possession by a prohibited person charges.

For more information on domestic violence or to get help, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice. Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

###

 

LEXINGTON, Ky. – U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr., announced on Tuesday $1,892,160 in Department of Justice grants to improve services for crime victims in the Eastern District of Kentucky. The grants, awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs, are part of over $144 million distributed to enhance the response to victims of crime throughout the United States.

“The Department of Justice is steadfast in its commitment to protecting public safety and bringing justice to those who have been victimized,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “The investments we are making today will support service providers as they work to secure the legal rights of victims and put survivors of criminal acts on the road to recovery.”

The awards made to organizations in the Eastern District of Kentucky will advance the use of technology, improve community preparedness and law enforcement training and provide emergency and transitional shelter to assist victims of crime. Programs will also support victims of child abuse and fund research projects related to perpetrators and victims of elder abuse. Approximately $64.3 million was awarded under Office for Victims of Crime grant programs; over $54.1 million was awarded under Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention programs; over $19.9 million was awarded under Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking grant programs; and nearly $5.7 million was awarded under two National Institute of Justice grant programs.

“Protecting the public and pursuing justice on behalf of crime victims are core priorities for our Office and for the Department of Justice,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “The grant funds awarded by DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs will be used to help crime victims in the Eastern District of Kentucky.”

“As lockdowns and lawlessness fuel crime in America’s homes and communities, more people are vulnerable to victimization and those who have been victimized face new hurdles,” said OJP Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Katharine T. Sullivan. “The Office of Justice Programs is committed to giving our victim service partners the tools they need to better serve their clients and protect victims’ rights.”

The following organizations received funding:

• Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet- $400,000
• Mountain Comprehensive Care Center - $700,000
• Volunteers of America Mid-States- $700,000

More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.

-END-

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A South Carolina man, Aaron Micah Jamison, 45, who formerly resided in Lexington, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday, September 24, to 36 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for theft from an employee benefits plan, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and unlawful storage of hazardous waste.           

According to his plea agreement, Jamison was the CEO of Micah Group, LLC, which offered construction and remediation services to the energy and environmental sectors.  Jamison admitted that from March 4, 2016 to October 30, 2016, he knowingly failed to remit employees’ 401(k) contributions that had been withheld from their paychecks, totaling over $30,000.00, and diverted them for his personal use and the use of his businesses.  Jamison also admitted that from April 2, 2017 through April 28, 2017, he failed to remit withheld pre-tax health contributions of the Micah Group’s employees to its health insurer, totaling $4,843.73.

The Micah Group also performed abandonment of ground water monitoring wells at numerous sites around the state of Kentucky, including gas stations, convenience stores, and other private property, and sought payment for such work from the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet.  On multiple occasions, Jamison admitted to signing documents falsely representing that the wells had been properly abandoned in order to bring income to the Micah Group and to ensure that him and other employees were paid. At sentencing, the court determined that between 2013 and 2017, the false representations made by Jamison and his co-conspirators caused approximately $640,000 in loss to the state.

Finally, Jamison admitted to unlawfully storing hazardous waste at Micah Group’s premises at various points in time between January 2016 and December 2017.

 Jamison pleaded guilty in January 2020.

“The defendant stole from his employees and lied to state authorities to further his own interests,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  “His conduct not only financially harmed his employees, and caused the state to spend money to clean up his mess, but he also potentially put the public at risk by failing to properly monitor ground water wells and store hazardous materials.  I commend the cooperation and work of the investigative agencies involved, as their efforts helped hold the defendant accountable for his actions.”

"The defendant was paid to transport hazardous waste as defined under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Mr. Jamison chose to illegally store the hazardous waste and place the public, and environment at risk” said Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno of the EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division in Atlanta, GA.

"Criminal acts like this directly impact participants in employee benefit plans by compromising their hard-earned benefits and eroding confidence in those chosen to manage their trust. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration is committed to ensuring the integrity of employee benefit programs,” said Employee Benefits Security Administration Regional Director Joe Rivers, in Cincinnati, Ohio.           

Under federal law, Jamison must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 3 years. In addition, Jamison was ordered to pay $640,638.31 in restitution.

U.S. Attorney Duncan, SAC Carfagno, and Director Rivers made the announcement. 

The investigation was pursued by the United States Secret Service, Environmental Protection Agency-Criminal Investigation Division and Office of Inspector General, and the United States Department of Labor with assistance by the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Greenfield and Kate Anderson.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Los Angeles woman, Katherine E. Matthews, 41, was sentenced in federal court on Friday, to 168 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana, along with conspiring to commit money laundering offenses.                   

According to testimony at trial, Matthews partnered with Robert W. Carlson to move cocaine, belonging to the Sinaloa Cartel, from California to Eastern cities including Lexington, Louisville, New York, Charlotte, Atlanta, and Miami, using private planes. Over the course of the conspiracy, Matthews moved thousands of kilograms of cocaine to these cities. She also brought millions of dollars from the Eastern cities back to California, to be handed over to the cartel. 

Matthews was convicted in April 2020.  Her charges stemmed from a larger investigation into drug trafficking and money laundering activities that was precipitated by a drug seizure from a private plane that arrived, from Van Nuys Airport in Southern California, at Bluegrass Airport in Lexington, in April 2017.

Before Matthews’s trial, several other defendants involved in the conspiracy pleaded guilty.  Carlson pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in February 2018.  In his plea agreement, Carlson admitted to conspiring with Isaac Basilio Rosas, Cedric Allen Oronce Fajardo, and others to transport and distribute drugs found on the plane that landed in Lexington in April 2017.  Carlson also admitted to planning and organizing that trip.  Carlson was sentenced to 200 months in prison and five years of supervised release in October 2019.  Basilio Rosas pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in January 2018.  He was sentenced to 108 months in prison in May 2018.  Oronce Fajardo pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in July 2017.  He was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment in June 2020.

Two other defendants, Robert Earl Wallace and Kendra Michelle Caprice Tally also pleaded guilty for their roles in the drug conspiracy.  In February 2020, Wallace pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine.  Wallace, a private pilot, admitted in his plea agreement that he flew as many as ten trips for Carlson and his associates, where drugs and/or drug proceeds were moved to locations across the country.  Wallace admitted that he did at least one of those trips after he learned the trips’ purpose and that that trip involved moving at least 80 kilograms of cocaine. Wallace was sentenced to 60 months of imprisonment on October 2, 2020, and he also received five years of supervised release.  

Tally, who was a passenger on a flight that landed in Lexington in April 2017, with cocaine and methamphetamine on the plane, pleaded guilty in February 2020 to the felony offense of lying to federal agents. She admitted in her plea agreement that she knew that there were controlled substances on the flight, but falsely told Homeland Security agents that she did not know the plane was carrying controlled substances.  Tally was sentenced to a three-year term of probation.           

Under federal law, Matthews must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence.  Upon her release, she will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for eight years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky ; Steven L. Igyarto, Resident Agent in Charge, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations; and Rodney L. Brewer, Commissioner of the Kentucky State Police, jointly made the announcement.           

The Department of Homeland Security and the Kentucky State Police conducted the investigation, with assistance from the Federal Aviation Administration.  The United States was represented in this case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dmitry Slavin, Roger West, and Will Moynahan. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

COVINGTON, Ky.- An Erlanger, Ky., man, Justin Frank, 30, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 150 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.  

According to his plea agreement, Frank admitted that on October 25, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence, finding 176.5 grams of methamphetamine and other items consistent with drug trafficking in a safe in his room. On February 7, 2020, law enforcement served an arrest warrant for Frank and found him with an additional 51 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, marijuana, and cash.

Frank pleaded guilty in June 2020.

Under federal law, Frank must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Keith Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Detroit Field Division; Christopher Conners, Director of the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force; Chief Col. Kyle Rader, Erlanger Police Department; and Chief Spike Jones, Kenton County Police Department, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by the DEA, Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, Erlanger Police Department, and the Kenton County Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Bracke.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

LEXINGTON, KY- A Detroit, Michigan, man, Dayquan Dejon Johnson, 23, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 148 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.           

According to his plea agreement, Johnson admitted that since at least 2018, he conspired with Dejon Johnson, Melinda Parks, Melissa Shortridge, and others to distribute heroin and fentanyl in the Eastern District of Kentucky.

Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2020.

Johnson’s co-defendants have been sentenced. Dejon Johnson received 46 months and four years of supervised release; Parks received 78 months and five years of supervised release; and Shortridge received 70 months and three years of supervised release.           

In addition to the prison sentence, Johnson was ordered to pay a $3,500 fine. Under federal law, Johnson and his co-defendants must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release, Johnson will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville; made the announcement. The investigation was pursued by DEA, KSP, and the Winchester Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Greenfield.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

COVINGTON, Ky. - A Covington man, Robert Copeland, 43, was sentenced in federal court on Friday, to 63 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge David Bunning, after previously admitting to conspiring with others to distribute crack cocaine.

In his plea agreement, Copeland admitted that he conspired with another individual Dennis Duane Free to distribute crack cocaine between October 1, 2018 and April 2, 2019. During this time, law enforcement conducted control buys of crack cocaine from Free.

Copeland pleaded guilty in June 2020.  Free, Copeland’s co-defendant, was sentenced in May 2020 and received 132 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Under federal law, Copeland must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and James Robert Brown, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by the FBI Safe Street’s Task Force.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Wade Napier.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

PIKEVILLE, KY- - Jackson Noel, 62, a pharmacist operating Buffalo Drug Inc., located in Buffalo, West Virginia, was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, to 120 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, for conspiring to illegally dispense and distribute oxycodone and oxymorphone.

Evidence at trial established that as part of the conspiracy Noel unlawfully dispensed oxycodone and oxymorphone pills from the pharmacy to out-of-state customers, including customers from Kentucky. Noel dispensed the pills on a cash only basis.        

According to evidence at trial, Noel began conspiring and distributing the drugs in June 2015 through December 2016 in Pike County, the Eastern District of Kentucky, and elsewhere.

Noel pleaded guilty in September 2019.            

Noel will be required to pay $100,000 in community restitution. Under federal law, Noel must serve 85 percent of their prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey T. Scott , Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; Daniel Cameron, Attorney General of Kentucky; and Rodney Brewer, Commissioner, Kentucky State Police jointly announced the jury’s verdict.

The investigation was conducted by the DEA, KSP, Kentucky Office of the Attorney General, the Putnam County, West Virginia, Sheriff’s Office, and the West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Dotson.

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In separate indictments, two men residing in Salt Lick, Ky., Clinton Anthony Peterson, 29, and Brandon Phillip Camous, 27, were indicted on Thursday, on federal charges of failing to register as sex offenders.

The indictments allege that from January 2016, continuing through September 17, 2020, both Peterson and Camous resided in Nicholas County and elsewhere; and while living there, they failed to register under the federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).  Both were charged with knowingly failing to register under SORNA, after qualifying prior convictions.           

The investigation preceding the indictments was conducted jointly by the U.S. Marshals Service and Kentucky State Police.

Peterson is scheduled to appear before the United States District Court, in Lexington, on October 8, 2020 at 11:30 a.m. Camous is scheduled to appear on October 5, 2020 at 11 a.m. If convicted, both face a maximum of 10 years in prison.  However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statutes governing the imposition of sentences.

            Any indictment is an accusation only.  A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.                                                                                                               

— END —

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Wesley Forrest Clay, 29, of Olathe, Kan., was indicted on Thursday in the Eastern District of Kentucky, for federal charges of sending threatening communications in interstate commerce.

The indictment follows a criminal complaint which was filed last week in the Eastern District of Kentucky.  The criminal complaint alleged that, on September 23, 2020, Clay called the Kentucky Attorney General’s telephone line in Frankfort that was dedicated to the Breonna Taylor investigation.  On the call he stated his name, telephone number, and then said among other things, “You will die if you do not give Breonna Taylor justice. That is a threat. Try me.”           

“Sending threatening communications in interstate commerce, over the telephone or via the internet, is grave conduct and can lead to potential federal prosecution,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “Law enforcement simply must treat these matters very seriously.”

“Threatening harm to our elected officials is a far cry from protected-speech and subjects people to vigorous investigation and potential federal prosecution,” said Russell Coleman, United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky. “As we are constantly reminded there are no longer geographic lines between law enforcement agencies and districts as we work collaborate to mitigate the threat to Kentuckians.”

“Sending threatening communications not only takes an emotional toll on the victim, but it also unnecessarily drains law enforcement resources. Threats are not jokes. You will be charged and arrested with a federal crime,” said James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office.” FBI Louisville will continue to work closely with our partners across the country to ensure elected officials can perform the duties of their office safely.”

The investigation preceding the charge was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisville Field Office, with assistance from the Kansas City Field Office.

Clay’s next scheduled appearance is on October 8, 2020 at 11 a.m. in Lexington, Ky.. If convicted, Clay faces up to 5 years in prison. However, any sentence following conviction would be imposed by the court after consideration of the United States Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of sentences.

            Any charge is an accusation only. A defendant is presumed innocent and is entitled to a fair trial at which government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.                                                                                                         

— END —

FRANKFORT, KY- A Frankfort woman, Lesley Wade, age, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 60 months in prison, by U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove, for money laundering and filing a materially false tax return.           

Wade was a long time employee of the Franklin County Board of Education (FCBOE), most recently serving as the FCBOE’s Financial Director. In Wade’s guilty plea agreement, she admitted that, starting in February 2011 and continuing through about June 25, 2019, she wrote unauthorized checks of FCBOE money to herself, then falsified the necessary FCBOE records and invoices to cover up her crimes. 

Wade also served as Treasurer of Leestown Gospel Church in Frankfort, where she essentially had plenary control over its financial management, with little oversight or internal controls.  Wade also admitted to periodically using her control over the Church’s finances to launder money she had stolen from the FCBOE, using the Church’s account before writing checks to herself, attempting to avoid detection and making the checks appear legitimate.           

Her theft of funds, which took place over a term of years, resulted in the FCBOE losing a total of $1,624,593. Further hiding her theft of funds, Wade also admitted that she willfully filed false individual income tax returns, for the years 2011-2018, by intentionally failing to report the income from her fraudulent scheme. The total amount of tax loss is $315,677.

Wade pleaded guilty in May 2020.

“The defendant’s conduct is truly outrageous - she harmed the citizens of Franklin County and abused her position of trust by stealing money from Board of Education and then used her church’s bank account to launder some of the stolen money,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “We remain committed to working with our federal, state, and local partners to investigate and prosecute embezzlement, including cases involving public employees, and violations of the tax laws.”

"Placed in a position of trust, the defendant methodically stole money from the public and then attempted to cover it up by laundering money through her church,” said Robert James Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “The FBI will not stand for officials who steal from the taxpayers they serve and, along with our partners, will continue the significant work of rooting out corruption and fraud.”

“Income derived from any source, including embezzled funds, is subject to income tax,” stated Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Cincinnati Field Office. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to holding accountable individuals who steal and fail to comply with the tax laws.”           

Under federal law, Wade must serve 85 percent of her prison sentence. Upon her release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

U.S. Attorney Duncan; SAC Brown, and SAC Jackson; jointly announced the sentencing.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and IRS. The United States was represented by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney James Chapman.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

A Bulgarian national was found guilty today for his role in a transnational and multi-million dollar scheme to defraud American victims through online auction fraud.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr. of the Eastern District of Kentucky, Assistant Director Michael D’Ambrosio of U.S. Secret Service’s Office of Investigations and Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer made the announcement.  

Rossen Iossifov, 53, formerly of Bulgaria, was convicted by a federal jury in Frankfort, Kentucky of one count of conspiracy to commit racketeering and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering after a two-week trial in front of U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier.  Sentencing has been set for Jan. 12, 2021.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Iossifov and his co-conspirators participated in a criminal conspiracy that engaged in a large-scale scheme of online auction fraud that victimized at least 900 Americans.  Specifically, Romania-based members of the conspiracy posted false advertisements to popular online auction and sales websites—such as Craigslist and eBay—for high-cost goods (typically vehicles) that did not actually exist.  Members of the conspiracy would convince American victims to send money for the advertised goods by crafting persuasive narratives, for example, by impersonating a military member who needed to sell the advertised item before deployment.

According to court documents, members of the conspiracy created fictitious online accounts to post these advertisements and communicate with victims, often using the stolen identities of Americans to do so.  They also delivered invoices to the victims bearing trademarks of reputable companies in order to make the transaction appear legitimate.  Members of the conspiracy also set up call centers, impersonating customer support, to address questions and alleviate concerns over the advertisements.

According to court documents, once victims were convinced to send payment, the conspiracy participants engaged in a complicated money laundering scheme wherein domestic associates would accept victim funds, convert these funds to cryptocurrency, and transfer proceeds in the form of cryptocurrency to foreign-based money launderers.

According to evidence presented at trial, Iossifov was the owner of RG Coins, a Bulgaria-based Bitcoin exchange.  From at least September 2015 to at least December 2018, he exchanged cryptocurrency into local fiat currency on behalf of the Romania-based members of the conspiracy, knowing that the Bitcoin represented the proceeds of illegal activity.  According to trial testimony, for example, in just the span of about two and a half years, Iossifov exchanged over $4.9 million worth of Bitcoin for just four other members of the criminal enterprise. 

Seventeen total defendants have been convicted in this case.  Three others are fugitives.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, Kentucky State Police, Lexington Police Department, IRS Criminal Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and supported by the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) and the International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2).  Assistance was provided by the Romanian National Police (Service for Combating Cybercrime) and the Romanian Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (Agency for Prosecuting Organized Crime).  The Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section provided significant support and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant support in securing and coordinating the arrests and extraditions from Romania of more than a dozen defendants. 

The United States was represented at trial by Senior Counsel Frank H. Lin of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kathryn M. Anderson and Kenneth R. Taylor of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky.  The case is additionally being prosecuted by Senior Trial Attorney Timothy C. Flowers of CCIPS.

Individuals believing they may be victims of the advanced fee and online auction fraud or brute-force attack schemes described herein are encouraged to visit the following website to obtain more information: https://justice.gov/usao-edky/information-victims-large-cases.  Tips to avoid becoming a victim of online auction fraud can be found here on the U.S. Secret Service’s website.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Lexington man, Guadalupe Ramos, 28, was sentenced in federal court on Monday, to 240 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for possession with intent to distribute 500 grams of more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and marijuana.           

According to his plea agreement, in November 2019, law enforcement agents identified Ramos as a drug trafficker distributing significant quantities of methamphetamine out of two residences in Lexington.  On January 9, 2020, agents with DEA and ATF executed a search warrant on one of the residences, seizing 3.62 kilograms of methamphetamine, 12,500 fentanyl pills, approximately 50 pounds of marijuana, 156 grams of heroin, and a packing press.  A search of the second residence revealed an additional 138 grams of methamphetamine, a .40 caliber revolver, a .38 caliber revolver, a rifle, scales, and marijuana.

Ramos pleaded guilty in May 2020.           

“Fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, are responsible for the majority of overdose deaths that occur across the Commonwealth, and the defendant possessed large quantities of drugs with the intent to distribute them” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “He also possessed a sizeable quantity of marijuana and multiple firearms. The cooperation of federal and state law enforcement stopped the defendant from further harming this community through distribution of these dangerous drugs. He will now face the deserved consequences of his actions.”      

Under federal law, Ramos must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for five years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Jeffrey T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by ATF and DEA. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.

This case was prosecuted as part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), a focused enforcement effort that seeks to reduce the supply of deadly synthetic opioids in high impact areas.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

LEXINGTON, KY- A Lexington man, David Lynn Carlin, 41, was sentenced in federal court on Monday to 120 months in prison, by Chief U.S. District Judge Danny Reeves, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.           

According to his plea agreement, on August 7, 2019, law enforcement and EMTs responded to a report of an unconscious person, later identified as Carlin. Officers and emergency personnel were able to revive Carlin, and during that response observed multiple firearms. Later that day, a search warrant was obtained and officers returned to the residence where Carlin was uncooperative and barricaded himself in the residence. Upon Carlin’s arrest, officers found six firearms in the residence and two additional firearms in a vehicle. Carlin admitted that he was a convicted felon and was not permitted to own a firearm.  

Carlin was previously convicted of Trafficking a Controlled Substance First Degree in Fayette Circuit Court in March 2013. He was also previously convicted of Assault Second Degree by Fayette Circuit Court in February 1999.           

Carlin pleaded guilty in January 2020.

Under federal law, Carlin must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence. Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by ATF and the Lexington Police Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker.

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

LEXINGTON, KY- In July 2018, the Department of Justice announced the launch of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S), a program aimed at reducing the supply of synthetic opioids in 10 high impact areas, including the Eastern District of Kentucky, and identifying wholesale distribution networks and international and domestic suppliers.

Under Operation SOS, the United States Attorneys in 10 districts with some of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country each designated a county where they would focus on prosecuting every readily available case involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic opioids, regardless of the drug quantity.

“The Justice Department’s commitment to fighting the opioids epidemic is stronger than ever, and we are using every tool in our arsenal to disrupt the supply of these drugs on our streets,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey A. Rosen. “Operation SOS has had a significant positive impact on the communities where it is being employed. The Department will continue to build on these successes and work to stop the drug traffickers who so callously wreck lives.”

“Operation SOS has helped us remove deadly fentanyl from Fayette County, almost certainly saving lives,” said U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan, Jr. “Yet, even with the progress made that has been made, we still recognize there is still more work to be done. Along with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we remain committed to devoting all available tools to combat the drug crisis, including our focus on aggressively pursuing charges against fentanyl traffickers, conducting community outreach and education, and encouraging those who need help to seek treatment.”

According to the 2019 Overdose Fatality Report, released by the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, five counties in the Eastern District of Kentucky had the highest OD death rate per capita in the Commonwealth. Opioids, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, accounted for the largest number of deaths. The largest decrease of overdose deaths occurred in Fayette County, where Operation SOS has been employed. Fayette County had 22 fewer Kentucky resident fatalities in 2019 compared to 2018.

Nationally, since 2018, Operation SOS has resulted in approximately 750 defendants being charged in federal court, with 384 of those defendants charged thus far in FY 20. Most importantly, the districts participating in the program have seen a decline in opioid overdoses. From 2017 to 2019, most SOS counties reported a decline of 14 percent to 24 percent. One notable success was in the Western District of Pennsylvania, where the opioid overdose rates declined by nearly 45 percent.

• The Eastern District of California has reported 60 active Operation S.O.S. investigations. Recently, the USAO charged one sentence-enhanced “death resulting” prosecution.  In February 2020, another investigation resulted in the seizure of over 20,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills.
• The District of Maine reported a July 2020 arrest of a defendant on charges of distributing counterfeit fentanyl pills marked as Percocet, in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred in May 2020. In addition, a Maine man was sentenced in February 2020 to five years in prison for two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, in connection with an incident where the defendant was found in possession of fentanyl less than 24 hours after he was released on a state summons for possession of fentanyl.
• The District of New Hampshire reported the October 2019 arrest of a man on a warrant for distributing fentanyl. Manchester Police Detectives executed a search warrant on a local drug-house, where they located approximately 850 grams of methamphetamine and 56 grams of fentanyl, several assault-style rifles, a handgun, ammunition, scales, safes, cash, and cellphones.   
• The Northern District of Ohio reported a 10-defendant wire case involving a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating out of Elyria and Sandusky, Ohio.  The DTO purchased kilogram quantities of cocaine and oxycodone pills.  Co-conspirators would later cook the cocaine and sell it as crack to local dealers in Elyria.  During the conspiracy, agents seized approximately ½ kilo of cocaine, 100 grams of crack, oxycodone pills, and five firearms.
• The Southern District of Ohio reported the arrest of an individual who had previously served a nine-year state prison sentence for drug trafficking. On October 22, 2019, after law enforcement observed activity consistent with drug transactions, including the delivery of what appeared to be a kilogram of narcotics by a courier, members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in Dayton, Ohio, where they located three firearms, 1,205 grams of methamphetamine, 1,716 grams of fentanyl, 305 grams of heroin, drug processing equipment, and 12 cellular telephones. One of the recovered cellular telephones contained photographs of multiple kilograms of fentanyl and communications with a narcotics supplier. Through subsequent investigation, law enforcement recovered an additional 19.5 kilograms of fentanyl/carfentanil.
• The Western District of Pennsylvania prosecuted 98 SOS cases thus far in FY 2020. Particularly noteworthy among them is the prosecution of Lynell Guyton. Guyton was convicted by a jury of conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or more of cyclopropyl fentanyl and other charges, including firearms and money laundering violations.  Guyton, who had been receiving shipments of fentanyl analogues from China, is both a Career Offender and an Armed Career Criminal. The case gained media attention when, during the execution of a search warrant in connection with the charges, the conspirators tipped over a table, sending cyclopropyl fentanyl into the air, sickening several law enforcement officers on the scene.
• The Eastern District of Tennessee reported multiple cases arising out of a single investigation involving a drug trafficking organization responsible for trafficking heroin and fentanyl from Michigan to various communities in the Eastern District of Tennessee. 29 defendants have been indicted on various charges, including drug trafficking conspiracy, overdose death enhancements, money-laundering conspiracy, and various firearms offenses.  More than 5.5 kilograms of heroin and/or fentanyl and 11 firearms were seized during the investigation. 
• The Northern District of West Virginia reported a July 21, 2020, forty-four count indictment against 12 defendants.  During the nearly yearlong investigation, law enforcement officers seized more than 280 grams of cocaine base and more than 40 grams of fentanyl from one of the defendant’s residences in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Throughout the investigation, officers seized more than 280 grams of fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and heroin; more than 350 grams of cocaine base; more than one kilogram of liquid PCP; various amounts of cocaine; five firearms; and over $28,000.
• The Southern District of West Virginia reported that after a three-day trial, a jury in the convicted Steven McCallister of distribution of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Officers conducted a 50-gram purchase of heroin from McCallister, which then led to the execution of a search warrant at McCallister’s home.  Officers seized over one kilogram of fentanyl and a firearm. 

-END-

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Ann Sonderman Giles, 56, and Lu Anne Wallace, 66, both of Lexington, were sentenced on Monday, before U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell, to 30 months and 33 months, respectively, for conspiring to defraud the United States.           

According to their plea agreements, Giles and Wallace operated various health care related companies in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Giles as the Chief Executive Officer and Wallace as the Chief Financial Officer.  They admitted to knowingly failing to pay over to the IRS mandated trust fund taxes derived from the operations of their companies, including federal income, Social Security, and Medicare taxes that had been withheld from their employees’ paychecks.  Giles and Wallace further admitted that between January 2014 and July 2017, they conspired to defraud the United States out of $1,595,725 in tax revenue.  .           

Giles and Wallace pleaded guilty in June 2020.           

In addition to their respective terms of incarceration, Giles and Wallace were ordered to pay $1,595,725 to the IRS in restitution, jointly and severally. Under federal law, Giles and Wallace must serve 85 percent of their prison sentences.  Upon their release, they will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for three years, respectively.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Bryant Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation; and  Rafiq Ahmad, Special Agent in Charge, DOL Office of Inspector General, jointly announced the sentences.

The investigation was conducted by the IRS and Department of Labor. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Moynahan.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

COVINGTON, Ky. - A Louisville man was convicted Thursday, by a federal jury sitting in Covington, of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and firearm offenses.

After three hours of deliberation, following a three-day trial, the jury convicted 31-year-old Quinn Turner of conspiracy to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

The evidence at trial established that Turner distributed multiple pounds of crystal methamphetamine, on an ongoing basis from June 1, 2018 through October 3, 2018, both directly and through associates.  Evidence also established that he used firearms to assist in his offense.  Turner was arrested in Boone County, Kentucky, on October 3, 2018, when he arrived at a store with a pound of pure crystal methamphetamine that he planned to distribute.  He was also in possession of a firearm when arrested.  Turner had been released from state prison in November 2017, after serving a 12-year sentence for armed bank robbery.             

Tuner was charged in a superseding indictment, in September 2019.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and Keith W. Martin, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the verdict.

The investigation was conducted by DEA and the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force. The United States was represented in the case by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Bracke and Kyle Winslow. 

Turner will appear for sentencing on a date to be determined by the court.  For the methamphetamine charges, he faces a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life.  For the firearm offenses, he faces a minimum of five years, consecutive to any other sentence.  However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.

 This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

 This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

— END —

ASHLAND, Ky. - A Dayton, Ohio man, Robert Amos, 33, was sentenced in federal court on Monday, to 140 months in prison, before U.S. District Judge David Bunning, for possession with intention to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.

According to his plea agreement, Amos admitted that when he was stopped by law enforcement, he was in possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of fentanyl for distribution. 

Amos pleaded guilty in May 2020.           

Under federal law, Amos must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for six years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky, and J.T. Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Louisville Field Division, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by DEA and the FADE Drug Task Force.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cynthia Rieker. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

COVINGTON, Ky. – A former office manager for a state child support agency admitted in federal court on Friday that she defrauded a state agency, embezzling significant funds. 

Mary Elizabeth Pickett, 56, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, before U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning.

 According to Pickett’s plea agreement, between January 4, 2013, and September 20, 2019, while she was the office manager of the Boyd County Child Support Enforcement Office (“BCCSEO”), Pickett misappropriated BCCSEO funds for her own personal use and benefit.  As part of Pickett’s scheme to embezzle BCCSEO funds, she submitted false payroll documents to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, falsely reporting that an employee had worked 40 hours per week, when in fact the employee had only worked 14 hours.  Pickett then wrote herself checks for the difference.  In total, Pickett embezzled $126,313.90.  In connection with the scheme, Pickett also admitted to knowingly forging the signature of her supervisor, the contracting official of the BCCSEO, without his knowledge or permission. 

Pickett was charged by way of information, waiving her right to indictment by a federal grand jury. 

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Commissioner Rodney Brewer, Kentucky State Police, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI and KSP.  The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kate K. Smith. 

Pickett is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2020, in Ashland.  She faces up to 20 years in prison for the mail fraud, a minimum of two years for the identity theft, and a maximum fine of $250,000.  However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court, after its consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes.  

– END –

LEXINGTON, Ky. - U.S. Attorney Robert M. Duncan Jr., of the Eastern District of Kentucky, announced that Anderson County Board of Education, Fayette County Board of Education, and Whitley County Board of Education will receive $26,794, $499,355, and $356,651, respectively, from the Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).

Nationally, the COPS Office SVPP awarded nearly $50 million in school safety funding. SVPP provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools and school grounds.

“While this school year has started in a non-traditional manner for many schools across the Commonwealth and around the country, these local award recipients can still utilize these funds to prepare for in-school sessions, by improving school safety for when students do return to the classroom,” said U.S. Attorney Duncan. “COPS awards like these are critical to supporting our school safety programs and protecting our kids.”

“With the new school year underway, the safety of our nation’s students remains paramount,” said COPS Office Director Phil Keith.  “Although this school year may look different at the start, now is the ideal time to make preparations to enhance school safety for when all of our children are back in the classroom.”   

The Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing School Violence Act of 2018 (STOP School Violence Act of 2018) gave the COPS Office authority to provide awards directly to states, units of local government, Indian tribes, and public agencies (such as school districts and law enforcement agencies) to improve security at schools and on school grounds in the jurisdiction of the grantee through evidence-based school safety programs.  The three  awards announced today can be used for coordination with law enforcement; training for local law enforcement officers to prevent student violence; metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures; technology for expedited notification of local law enforcement during an emergency; and other measures that provide a significant improvement in security.  The full list of SVPP awards can be found here: https://cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/2020AwardDocs/svpp/Award_List.pdf.

In addition to the school safety grants announced today, the COPS Office School Safety Working Group, which is composed of representatives from eight national law enforcement organizations, has identified 10 essential actions that can be taken by schools, school districts, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent critical incidents involving the loss of life or injuries in our nation's schools and to respond rapidly and effectively when incidents do occur. The Ten Essential Actions to Improve School Safety are applicable to school shootings as well as to other areas of school safety, including natural disasters and traumatic events such as student suicide. Adopting policies and practices based on the recommendations in this publication can help make school communities safer and save lives.

The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide.  Since 1994, the COPS Office has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 134,000 officers and provide a variety of knowledge resource products including publications, training and technical assistance. 

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

— END —

FRANKFORT, KY- A Lexington, Ky., man, Prince Bixler, 41, was convicted on Wednesday by a federal jury in Frankfort, Ky., for charges related to his extensive and violent sex and drug trafficking operation that sold crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine throughout the Lexington area and forced young, drug-addicted women to prostitute. 

After 6.5 hours following a 7-day trial, the jury convicted Bixler of three counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or an informant; one count of operating an unlawful prostitution business as an interstate racketeering enterprise; six counts of distributing controlled substances including crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine; and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

Evidence presented at trial, including the testimony of four victims, established that defendant Prince Bixler compelled four victims into prostitution between 2013 and March 2018 by physically assaulting them and others, and weakening the victims by worsening their addictions to crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The defendant also sold crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine throughout the Lexington area to numerous customers. The Lexington Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in March 2018, which led to the recovery of numerous firearms. The defendant, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing these and other firearms.           

As the investigation into the defendant’s illegal conduct continued throughout 2018 into 2019, he became aware that multiple potential witnesses were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Lexington. The defendant threatened one witness with physical violence in an attempt to dissuade her from testifying truthfully before the grand jury. The defendant also repeatedly called and harassed another witness on the eve of her scheduled grand jury appearance in an attempt to prevent her from testifying truthfully before the grand jury. 

Bixler was indicted in June 2019.

“Prince Bixler used violence and threats of violence to create a climate of fear to trap these young women, while at the same time increasing their dependence on him by worsening their addictions to crack cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “Human traffickers are adept at exploiting victims’ drug addictions and using coercive tactics to intimidate and compel their services. There can be no place in our society for conduct like this defendant’s, and the Department of Justice will continue its vigorous efforts to hold human traffickers accountable, bring justice to their victims, and prevent them from harming others.”

“The hard work, dedication, and cooperation of law enforcement from state and federal agencies have made our community safer and brought some measure of justice to the victims of Prince Bixler,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “His conduct was truly despicable, and will serve to strengthen our resolve to combat the destructive exploitation of human traffickers.  I commend the members of the investigative and prosecution teams for their committed work in prosecuting this case.”

“Today’s conviction is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to bring justice to those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community,” said James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “When human beings are treated as commodities, they are not only being abused physically, but emotionally and financially. FBI Louisville will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt those who engage in human trafficking.”

“Human trafficking is a violent crime with victims whose fear of reprisal often keeps them from getting help,” stated Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Division. “What began as a drug and firearms investigation saved these victims from further exploitation and shut down a dangerous supplier of drugs in the Lexington area. ATF is proud of our local and federal law enforcement partnerships and the good work that resulted today.”

Assistant Attorney General Dreiband; U.S. Attorney Duncan; FBI SAC Brown; ATF SAC Morrow; and Chief Lawrence Weathers, Lexington Police Department, jointly announced the conviction.

This case was investigated by FBI, ATF and the Lexington Police Department. The United States is being represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Special Litigation Counsel Matthew Grady for the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

Bixler will be sentenced on December 29, 2020. He faces a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as mandatory restitution to the sex trafficking victims. However, the Court must consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the applicable federal sentencing statutes before imposing a sentence.

— END —

After a 7-day trial, a federal jury in Frankfurt, Kentucky, found Prince Bixler, 41, of Lexington, Kentucky, guilty of charges related to his extensive and violent sex and drug trafficking operation that sold crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines throughout the Lexington area and forced young, drug-addicted women to prostitute. 

After deliberating for six and a half hours, the jury convicted the defendant of four counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or an informant, one count of operating an unlawful prostitution business enterprise, six counts of distributing controlled substances including crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine, and three counts of being a felon in possession with a firearm. 

“This defendant used violence and threats of violence to create a climate of fear to trap these young women, while at the same time increasing their dependence on him by feeding them with illegal drugs to take advantage of their addictions to crack cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division. “Human traffickers are adept at exploiting victims’ drug addictions and using coercive tactics to intimidate and compel their services. There can be no place in our society for criminal conduct like this defendant’s, and the U.S. Department of Justice will continue its to prosecute human traffickers to the fullest extent of the law, prevent them from harming others, and seek justice for the victims of these terrible crimes.”

“The hard work, dedication, and cooperation of law enforcement from state and federal agencies have made our community safer and brought some measure of justice to the victims of Prince Bixler,” said Robert M. Duncan, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “His conduct was truly despicable, and will serve to strengthen our resolve to combat the destructive exploitation of human traffickers. I commend the members of the investigative and prosecution teams for their committed work in prosecuting this case.”

“Today’s conviction is yet another example of the FBI’s commitment to bring justice to those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community,” said James Robert Brown, Jr., Special Agent in Charge, FBI, Louisville Field Office. “When human beings are treated as commodities, they are not only being abused physically, but emotionally and financially. FBI Louisville will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt those who engage in human trafficking.”

“Human trafficking is a violent crime with victims whose fear of reprisal often keeps them from getting help,” stated Special Agent in Charge Shawn Morrow of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Louisville Division. “What began as a drug and firearms investigation saved these victims from further exploitation and shut down a dangerous supplier of drugs in the Lexington area. ATF is proud of our local and federal law enforcement partnerships and the good work that resulted today.”

Evidence presented at trial, including the testimony of four victims, established that defendant Prince Bixler compelled four victims into prostitution between 2013 and March 2018 by physically assaulting them and others, and weakening the victims by worsening their addictions to crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. The defendant also sold crack cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine throughout the Lexington area to numerous customers. The Lexington Police Department executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence in March 2018, which led to the recovery of numerous firearms. The defendant, a convicted felon, was prohibited from possessing these and other firearms. As the investigation into the defendant’s illegal conduct continued throughout 2018 into 2019, he became aware that multiple potential witnesses were subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury in Lexington. The defendant threatened one witness with physical violence in an attempt to dissuade her from testifying truthfully before the grand jury. The defendant also repeatedly called and harassed another witness on the eve of her scheduled grand jury appearance in an attempt to prevent her from testifying truthfully before the grand jury. 

A sentencing date has not been scheduled at this time, but it will occur before District Court Judge Robert E. Wier. The defendant faces a minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, as well as mandatory restitution to the sex trafficking victims.

This case was investigated by the Lexington FBI office, the Lexington ATF office, and the Lexington Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Hydee Hawkins for the Eastern District of Kentucky and Special Litigation Counsel Matthew Grady for the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit.

LONDON, Ky. - A Blacksburg, South Carolina man, Joe Barlow Owens, 44, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison on Wednesday, before U.S. District Judge Claria Horn Boom, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.           

In his prior guilty plea, Owens admitted that he committed both offenses on February 25, 2019, in Knox County.  According to his guilty plea agreement, law enforcement officials searched his vehicle and found over 700 grams of methamphetamine, cash, and a loaded firearm, which Owens admitted was to protect his drugs and drug proceeds.  Owens also admitted that he knew he had a prior felony conviction, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Owens pleaded guilty in March 2020.

Under federal law, Owens must serve 85 percent of his prison sentence.  Upon his release, he will be under the supervision of the U.S. Probation Office for 10 years.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Jeffrey Todd Scott, Special Agent in Charge, DEA, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Mike Smith, Knox County Sheriff’s Department, jointly made the announcement. 

The investigation was directed by DEA and the Knox County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Trimble.

This case was prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities.  It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts.  In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Duncan coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.           

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.  Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities.  Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.

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COVINGTON, Ky.- A Cincinnati, Oh., man, Sammie Green, 25, pleaded guilty Friday, before U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning, to carjacking and discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.           

According to his plea agreement, Green admitted that, on August 15, 2019, he got into a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, during which a pizza delivery driver arrived.  The girlfriend and her children fled from Green and asked the delivery driver to call the police.  Green further admitted that, as the delivery driver called the police, he fired multiple shots from a handgun.  Green then approached the delivery driver, pointed the gun at him, and demanded the keys of his vehicle.  When the delivery driver complied, Green admitted to fleeing in the stolen vehicle.

Green was indicted in February 2020.

Robert M. Duncan, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Shawn Morrow, Special Agent in Charge, ATF, Louisville Field Division; and Sheriff Michael Helmig, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, jointly announced the guilty plea.

The investigation was conducted by ATF and Boone County Sheriff’s Department. The United States was represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Winslow and Tony Bracke.

Green is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2020. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the carjacking charge and a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the discharging of a firearm charge. However, any sentence will be imposed by the Court after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal sentencing statutes.           

This is another case prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program (PSN), which is a nationwide, crime reduction strategy aimed at decreasing violent crime in communities. It involves a comprehensive approach to public safety — one that includes investigating and prosecuting crimes, along with prevention and reentry efforts. In the Eastern District of Kentucky, U.S. Attorney Robert Duncan Jr., coordinates PSN efforts in cooperation with various federal, state, and local law enforcement officials.

This case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the greatest threat to our communities. Click here for more information about Project Guardian.

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